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Cancer biophysics is an interdisciplinary field that combines the principles of physics, biology, and engineering to study the physical and mechanical aspects of cancer biology and its progression[1]. It focuses on understanding the physical forces, properties, and processes that govern cancer development, growth, invasion, metastasis, and response to treatment. Through the application of quantitative and computational approaches, cancer biophysics aims to uncover the underlying biophysical mechanisms and provide insights into cancer development, progression, and therapeutic strategies.
Major research areas in cancer biophysics include: 1) Mechanical properties of cancer cells: Cancer cells exhibit different mechanical properties compared to healthy cells, such as altered cell stiffness, deformability, and adhesion. Cancer biophysicists are studying these properties to understand how mechanical forces contribute to cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. 2) The tumor microenvironment: the physical properties of the tumor microenvironment, including extracellular matrix stiffness, fluid flow, and cellular interactions, play a critical role in tumor growth and progression. Cancer biophysics studies how the tumor microenvironment influences cancer cell behavior and response to therapies. 3) Cell migration and metastasis: cancer cells often migrate through complex environments, including tissues and blood vessels, to invade distant sites and form metastatic tumors. Cancer biophysics studies the physical mechanisms underlying cancer cell migration, including cytoskeletal dynamics, cell adhesion, and interactions with the environment. 4) Biomechanics of tumor growth: tumor growth involves the expansion and remodeling of tissues that can exert mechanical forces on the surrounding environment. Cancer biophysics studies the biomechanical aspects of tumor growth, such as tumor-induced tissue deformation and mechanical interactions between tumor and host tissues. 5) Mechanotransduction: mechanotransduction refers to the process by which cells sense and respond to mechanical forces. In cancer, impaired mechanotransduction can contribute to tumor development and progression. Cancer biophysics explores the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying mechanotransduction in cancer cells and its impact on tumor behavior. 6) Imaging and biophysical techniques: Advanced imaging techniques such as multiphoton microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and optical tweezers are used in cancer biophysics to visualize and quantify cellular and molecular processes in real time. Biophysical techniques enable quantitative measurements of physical properties and forces in cancer cells and tissues.
Insights gained from biophysical cancer research can inform the understanding of tumor behavior, the development of new therapeutic strategies, and the design of targeted drug delivery systems. By integrating biophysical approaches into traditional cancer biology and clinical research, cancer biophysics aims to contribute to advances in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care.
A cancer biophysics laboratory[2-3] is essential for several reasons: 1) To understand cancer biology: Cancer is a complex disease involving intricate interactions between biological systems and physical forces. A cancer biophysics laboratory enables researchers to study the biophysical properties and processes that underlie cancer biology, thereby unraveling the fundamental mechanisms of cancer development, progression, and response to treatment. 2) Advance Personalized Medicine: Biophysical cancer research can contribute to the development of personalized medicine approaches. By studying the physical properties and behavior of individual cancer cells or tissues, researchers can gain insight into the heterogeneity of tumors and develop tailored treatment strategies based on the specific characteristics of each patient's cancer. 3) Developing new therapeutic approaches: Biophysical insights gained in a cancer biophysics laboratory can lead to the development of innovative therapeutic approaches. By understanding the mechanical forces involved in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis, researchers can identify new targets for therapeutic intervention and develop strategies to interrupt these processes. 1) Optimization of drug delivery systems: The physical properties of cancer cells and tissues can significantly affect the efficacy of drug delivery systems. In a cancer biophysics laboratory, researchers can study how drug molecules interact with cancer cells, penetrate the tumor microenvironment, and optimize drug delivery systems to improve treatment outcomes. 2) Bridging the gap between physics and biology: cancer biophysics serves as a bridge between physics and biology, integrating principles and techniques from both disciplines. By establishing cancer biophysics laboratories, researchers can foster interdisciplinary collaboration and leverage the strengths of physics, biology, and engineering to gain a deeper understanding of cancer and develop innovative solutions. 3) Translating research into clinical applications: A cancer biophysics laboratory provides a platform for translating basic research results into clinical applications. The laboratory can facilitate the development and validation of novel technologies, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic strategies, paving the way for their eventual use in patient care. 4) Training the next generation of researchers: Cancer biophysics is an emerging field, and dedicated laboratories are critical for training the next generation of researchers in this interdisciplinary field. A cancer biophysics laboratory provides an environment where students and scientists can gain hands-on experience with advanced biophysical techniques to enhance their skills and expertise in the field.
Overall, a cancer biophysics laboratory plays an important role in advancing our understanding of cancer, developing innovative treatments, and improving patient outcomes. By combining the principles of physics and biology, these labs contribute to multidisciplinary efforts in the fight against cancer and pave the way for new discoveries and advances in cancer research and therapy.
Despite all of these advantages, establishing a cancer biophysics laboratory presents unique challenges due to the complex nature of cancer research and the integration of biophysical techniques. There are some of the challenges that arise when establishing a cancer biophysics laboratory: 1) Cancer research often involves working with biohazardous materials, including patient samples, cell lines, and potentially infectious pathogens. It is critical to design the laboratory to meet biosafety level (BSL) requirements, provide adequate safeguards, and ensure the safety of researchers and the environment. 2) Cancer biophysics laboratories require dedicated spaces for handling and preparing patient samples, cell cultures, and tissue samples. It can be challenging to set up efficient and separate areas for sample processing, storage, and disposal while maintaining strict quality control measures. 3) Advanced imaging and analysis are required. Biophysical techniques such as microscopy, spectroscopy, and imaging play a critical role in cancer research. Setting up a laboratory for advanced imaging systems, specialty microscopes (e.g., confocal, multiphoton microscopes), and analytical tools can be complex and requires consideration of space, vibration isolation, and controlled lighting conditions. 4) Biophysical cancer research often requires the integration of multiple disciplines, including biology, physics, engineering, and computer science. Designing the laboratory to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, such as providing shared spaces, computational resources, and data integration platforms, is challenging but essential for effective research outcomes. 5) Cancer biophysics laboratories require a wide range of specialized equipment, including high-throughput screening systems, flow cytometers, next-generation sequencing machines, and computational resources for data analysis. Planning the laboratory to accommodate this equipment, ensure adequate power, and ensure proper maintenance and calibration can be very challenging. 6) Huge amounts of data are generated in cancer research, including genomics, proteomics, imaging, and clinical data. Developing a secure and scalable data management infrastructure to store, process, analyze, and share sensitive patient data while complying with privacy regulations is a major challenge. 7) Cancer research is a rapidly evolving field, with new techniques, technologies and research directions emerging regularly. Designing a flexible laboratory space that can adapt to changing research needs, accommodate future expansion, and integrate new technologies is important, but can also be challenging. 8) In cancer research, ethical guidelines, privacy regulations, and research protocols for human subjects must be followed. Designing the laboratory to comply with these regulations, ensuring proper documentation, and implementing required safety and ethical protocols can be complex.
Overcoming these challenges requires collaboration among researchers, smart laboratory designers, biosafety experts, and architects with expertise in cancer research and biophysics. When these challenges are considered in the design phase, it is possible to create a biophysical cancer laboratory that promotes innovative research while ensuring safety and efficiency.
References
1- Beshay, P.E., Cortes-Medina, M.G., Menyhert, M.M. and Song, J.W. (2022), The Biophysics of Cancer: Emerging Insights from Micro- and Nanoscale Tools. Adv. NanoBiomed Res., 2: 2100056.
2- Jilí Pokorný, Alberto Foletti, Jitka Kobilková, Anna Jandová, Jan Vrba, Jan Vrba Jr., Martina Nedbalová, Aleš HoIek, Andrea Danani, and Jack A. TuszyNski, “Biophysical Insights into Cancer Transformation and Treatment”, Scientific World Journal. 2013; 2013: 195028.
3- Cancer Physics and Engineering Laboratory, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, https://www.mdanderson.org/research/departments-labs-institutes/labs/koay-laboratory.html 30.06.2023
| Keywords | Biophysics, cancer, Cancer biophysics laboratory |
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